The GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.

THE GOOD: Starting Pitchers. In the three games this weekend (Fri-Sun), David Price, Alex Cobb, and Chris Archer combined to throw 9 shutout innings, giving up just 3 hits while striking out 11 and walking none…Desmond Jennings. Flash is off to a huge start early on. He is 4-9, but more importantly, he has 5 walks and no strikeouts. He also has 5 stolen bases, including 3 steals of third base…Matt Joyce. This could be a big spring for Joyce if he is ever going to be more than a platoon player for the Rays. And early on he is swinging the bat well, with 5 hits, including 3 doubles. He also has 3 walks and just 2 strikeouts. The doubles are especially exciting. We all know Joyce has 30-home run power. But he really should be a doubles machine.

THE BAD: Hak-Ju Lee. There is no doubting Lee’s status as a top prospect. But you can see that, offensively at least, he is still overmatched at the big league level. In 10 plate appearances, he has struck out 5 times and has just 1 hit.

The Rays made their first cuts this weekend, sending four pitchers to minor league camp. These pitchers were only in big league camp to help with the early split-squad games. [TampaBay.com]

The Rays finalized the contracts on all players that have less than three years of big league experience. These players will make at or near the big league minimum ($490,000). This includes Jeremy Hellickson. [TampaBay.com]

Tim Kurkjian on Wil Myers: “Two Rays told me that new OF Wil Myers is a better runner, a better athlete, than they expected. Plus, special power. We’ll see him May 1?” I can only see that happening if he just tears up triple-A. Otherwise, June is more realistic. [Tim Kurkjian]

Jon Heyman reports that the Rays are “doing a little canvassing” and are looking around for another “spare” catcher and outfielder. [Jon Heyman]

Chris Gimenez says he is a huge fan of Puerto Rico in the WBC. The better Puerto Rico plays, the longer Jose Molina is away from the team and the more playing time Gimenez will receive to make a case for the backup catcher’s job. [TampaBay.com]

The chief of the players’ union says some wonder if the Rays would be more successful in a stadium closer to Orlando. [Marc Topkin]

Evan Longoria’s baby has been released from the hospital. [TampaBay.com]

Matt Garza is expected to miss the first month of the regular season. [MLB.com]

Carl Crawford had a setback with his surgically repaired elbow and now he might start the season on the DL. [MLB.com]

Dan Johnson says people want to talk about his big home runs with the Rays “every day.” [WSJ.com]

I want to see more of Chris Giminez at catcher. I thought his at bats in September were a sign of something. Playing well this spring. The thought of Molina catching deep into the post-season is worrying me. That 2nd catcher is kind of crucial, because it really offers up the potential for being the No. 1 catcher. Of all the things the Rays did this off-season, re-signing Molina is the one I find hardest to understand. Playcalling aside, he just looked so done out there.

Why would Escobar "surprise" anyone... he is the only legit "Major League" player they signed this winter, IF they would have signed him or some one like him to play SS last year,and a catcher...WS here we come with the best pitching and the best closer in baseball....except can you spell PenaScott..
Lost opportunities is our game

Obviously you didn;t bother to read the link. It explained what they were surprised about. It wasn't "wow we thought he actually sucked but he doesn't!" kind of surprised.. Do us all a favor and try to inform yourself about the context of the quote before going on a unrelated rant.